Almost every car owner deals with a little pest called “rust” at some point in their lives, but not many people know how easily preventable it is and how much simple prevention can save your vehicle. Getting rid of rust can be tedious, so we’re here to help make sure you always have the upper hand in keeping your car from rusting in the first place.
Catch It Early
Think of rust as a sickness or virus, but for your car. If you recognize the early symptoms of an illness, you can prevent it from getting worse, and therefore having a greater impact on your body. The same goes for a vehicle. Rust will spread, and if it’s not dealt with it will destroy your car. Your best bet is to keep an eye out. Look around the tires, in the undercarriage of your car, and where body components meet, which is where the elements have the greatest impact on the body’s surface.
Keep It Clean
Prevention is always the best remedy, especially in terms of how to keep your car from rusting. The solution is as simple as washing it regularly. Typical “contaminants” that you wouldn’t usually think twice about, such as bird droppings, gasoline, sand, salt, and dirt, can damage and even eat through paint. Either do some at-home cleaning or take your car into an express wash when you’re on the go. Just make sure to wash your vehicle’s undercarriage if you’re doing it yourself, though; it’s an easy place to forget about, but it’s a breeding ground for rust. To finish, be careful to rinse every trace of soap off your car because it can damage the paint too!
Wax On, Wax Off
Some people may think of waxing as purely an aesthetic function, and they’re not entirely wrong – waxing is paramount in maintaining a sleek shine and preventing color from fading. But a good wax job is also one of the best ways to protect your car from the elements, damage, and, of course, rust. The typical recommendation by professionals is to wax your car every two years to protect the paint and body and repel water. However, not many people stay up-to-date with a waxing regiment because it’s a lot of work or they just forget to do it. To protect your car, you either leave the job to a trusted expert or take on the task yourself on a regular basis.
When There’s Already Rust
If you’ve already found rust, your car isn’t doomed; there’s actually something you can do about it. All you have to do is rub the rusted area down with a razor blade or fine grit sandpaper, apply a thin layer of rust arrestor, paint on some primer to the area, then add a bit of touch-up paint to doctor it up. Or, if you’re truly lost and you need some professional help, come to Wrecktify Collision & Restoration and meet with an expert that will point you in the right direction and help you in any way we can. Rust on your vehicle doesn’t have to be the end of the world. With the proper time and resources, you’ll be able to combat it without even batting an eyelash.
